Let-off mechanism for looms.



No. 775,335. i PATBNTBD NOV. 22, 19.04. J. T.' MEATS.

LET-OFF MECHANsM PoR Looms.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6.1904.

N0 MODEL. ZSHEBTS-SHEBT `1.

PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

J. T. MEATS.

LET-OFP MEGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIGATIUN FILED IBB. 6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN T. MEATS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MASON MACHINE vWORKS, OF TAUNTON, INIASSACHUSETS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LET-OFF MECHANISIVI FOR LOOVIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,386, dated November 22, 1904.

Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No. 192,320. (No model.)

To all who/'1t it Hefty concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. MEA'rs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taunton, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Let-Off Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspeciiication, like characters on the drawing's representinglike parts.

This invention relates to positively-driven let-oli' mechanism for looms wherein the warpbeam is positively rotated-as, for instance, in the well-known Bartlett let-ofi'. In such type of mechanism it is necessary for the weaver to turn the warp-beam by or through the actuating worm-gearing whenever it is desired to turn the beam backward or forward-as, for instance, after making' a pick out. Such 2O operation is of course very slow and involves the handling of oily parts of the apparatus by the operative, tending to soil his hands and injure the cloth by subsequent handling'.

One of the objects of my present invention is the production of simple and readily controlled means whereby the warp-beam can when desired be released or uncoupled from its actuating' mechanism, so that the warpbeam can be readily turned manually in either direction for any distance and without involving the handling of numerous greasy or dirty parts by the operative. In this connection a simple device has been provided to maintain operative or inoperative the connection be- 3 5 tween the warp-beam and its actuating mechanism, so that there is no liability of accidental derangement of the parts.

Another object of my invention is the production of means for controlling a plurality 40 of warp-beams in looms when the warp is mounted on a plurality of beams and an equal tension is required upon the warp-threads of the several beams. In this connection I have provided means to relieve the warp strain and equalize the tension, and the first-mentioned object of my invention is also made applicable in connection with the second object thereof, so that the plurality of beams can be turned by hand quickly and conveniently.

These and other novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification with relation to one practical embodiment of Vmy invention, and particularly pointed out in the following' claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a loom provided with the well-known Bartlett let-off and with one embodiment of my present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation centrally broken out of the greater portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, the loom being shown with two beams placed side by side. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the compensator and adjacent parts on the line 3 3, Fig. l, looking toward the front of the loom. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail 65 of the clutch device on the line A 4, Fig. 3, looking toward the right; and Fig'. is a modification to be referred to, showing one mode of construction when cooperating with a single beam.

Referring' to Fig. l, the rocking whip-bar A, having' an attached arm a, the bent or trombone rod af with usual springs .s and a and cooperating' collars c and c', the fixed guide MX, the rocking lever a2, operatively connected at one end with the trombone-rod a and at its other end jointed to a connecting-rod ai, the pawl-carrier (Z3, having' a pawl Zicoperating with the ratchet d on the upright actuating' or driving member or shaft (l, and the link SO connecting' the rod 1,3 with a moving' part of the loom, as the lay-sword AX, may be and are all of well-known or usual construction and constitute what is commonly termed the Bartlett let-oil', the connecting-rod t3 being 85 pivotally attached to the pawl-carrier d. The worm ZX on the actuating member or shaft (Z and the friction device F for the latter are also of well-known construction and operate in usual manner, said worm constituting a driving-gear.

Referring' to Fig. 2, I have shown two warpbeams M N mounted side by side with their axes in alinement, such an arrangement being' employed in broad looms where the great number of warp-threads make it expedient to use a plurality of beams. Said beams have attached gears mx wx, shown herein on their outer heads, and while the two beams are positively driven from a common actuating member 1 have provided compensating means to relieve and equalize the warp strain, the arrangement being such that one beam can turn faster or slower than its fellow when necessary. An elongated horizontal bearing A2 is secured to one of the loom sides adjacent the beams, and a tubular transmitting-shaft 1 is rotatably mounted therein and extended beyond the ends of the bearing, a gear2being secured to the inner end of the shaft and meshing with the beam head-gear mx. Upon the outer end of said shaft and at some distance from the bearing A2 a spur-gear 3 is secured, forming a member of the compensating device or compensator, as hereinafter termed, a similar and oppositely-located spur-gear 4 being made fast on the adjacent end of a second transmitting-shaft 5, rotatably mounted in the tubular shaft 1. Said shaft 5 extends across the loom and at its other end is supported in a suitable bearing A3, Fig. 2, and has fast upon it a gear 6, in mesh with the beam-gear nx. A yoke 7 has an elongated hub 8, which is rotatably supported upon the outer end of the shaft 1, adjacent the spur-gear 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the yoke carrying rotatable, opposite, and like bevel-pinions 9 9, which are interposed between and mesh with the Aspur-gears 3 4. Manifestly rotation of the yoke7 will through pinions 9 cause simultaneous rotation of the spur-gears and their attached shafts 1 and 5 in the same direction and normally at the same speed; but if the warp pull or tension on either beam varies from the pull on the other beam one can ad- Vance or hang back relatively to the other and there will be a relative rotation of the spur-gears and shafts to compensate therefor in the manner common to such compensators and so well known as to require no detailed explanation. It will be readily understood that the compensator while connecting the two shafts thus provides for the equalization of warp tension in an eiicient and automatic manner.

Between the inner end of the yoke-hub 8 and the outer end of the bearing A2 a sleeve 10 is loosely mounted on the tubular shaft 1 and has secured to or formed upon it a wormgear 11 and a clutch member 12, herein shown as a ratchet. Endwise movement of shaft l in the bearing A2 is prevented by the gear 2 at one end thereof and by the sleeve 10 and the long-hubbed yoke 7, interposed between the other ends of the bearing and the spurgear 3. The worm-gear 11 is in continuous mesh with the worm ZX on the positivelydriven actuating-shaft CZ, and it will be manifest that if the rotation of the worm-gear 11 is partaken of by the compensator the shafts 1 andl 5 will transmit such rotation to the beams to effect let-off. To this end I have interposed a clutch or coupling between the worm-gear and the compensator, one member being herein shown as the ratchet 12, which rotates with the worm-gear. The other member of the clutch is shown as a pawl 13, -having its hub 14 pivotally mounted on a stud 15, extended inward from the yoke 7 and eccentric to its axis of rotation, the pawl being manually movable into or out of engagement with its fellow clutch member, the pawl 12. When said members are in engagement, the positive rotation ofthe ratchet will act through the pawl to rotate simultaneously therewith the yoke 7 of the compensator, and thereby effect rotative movement of the beams. A lateral stud 16 on the pawl serves as a convenient handle to throw it into and out of engagement with the ratchet.

The pawl-hub 14 is enlarged to present two locking projections or shoulders 17 18, Fig. 4, and a spring locking-tingerjis adapted to coperate with one or the other shoulder, the finger being preferably made as a metallic spring-plate 19, secured at one end to a lug 2O on the back of the yoke. At its free end the linger 19 is bent or crooked at 21 to engage one or other of the shoulders, the resiliency of said finger retaining it in engagement with ashoulder. When in the position shown in Fig. 4, the bend 21 is between the projections or shoulders and the pressure of the finger acts at one side of the pawl-fulcrum 15 to retain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet. If the pawl is swung up out of engagement with the ratchet, the bend of the finger snaps into engagement with the shoulder 17 and retains the pawl in inoperative position. (See dotted lines, Fig. 4.) At such time the iattened face 22 on the pawl-hub bears against the at portion of the linger, and the pawl cannot accidentally move into coperation with the ratchet. When the pawl is in its inoperative position, the beams are completely disconnected from the actuating member or worm ZX and can be turned forward or back by hand, as desired, and for convenience in turning the beam N a handwheel is shown attached to the shaft 5 adjacent the spur-gear 4. By turning the handwheel the farther beamN will be turned, and if the other beam M is to be turned at the same time it can be accomplished by rotating the yoke in unison with the hand-wheel, or the weaver can take hold of the beam Mwith one hand and rotate it, while with the other h'and he operates the hand-wheel to turn the beam N. By holding the yoke and turning the hand-wheel, or vice versa, either beam may be rotated manually withoutcorresponding rotation of its fellow.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the drawings, it will be clearly manifest that the tension between the beams is equalized by or through the compensator interposed between the actuating member and the beams and connecting the latter and that IOO IIO

the actuating means of the let-ofil mechanism can be quickly and conveniently disconnected from the eq ualizing'or compensating member, and hence from the beam or beams, materially increasing the convenience and efficiency of the let-off, and thereby improving the product of the loom so equipped. Release of the clutch is effected easily by one hand, and it is then unnecessary for the weaver to take hold of any of the oily parts of the loom in order to disconnect the warp -beam and the actuating' mechanism therefor. Neither is any resetting or disturbance of the friction device F involved by release of the beam, the parts thus being' in condition for immediate resumption of work when desired.

Vhile I have shown my invention embodied in a loom provided with two beams,with transmitting' means particularly designed to coperate therewith, my invention is not restricted thereto nor to the precise details of construction and arrang'ement herein shown and described. It will be obvious that my invention is in part equally adapted for use in connection for a single beam, the compensator in that ease being omitted, and the clutch members would be varied somewhat to correspond with the mechanical changes involved. One clutch member would rotate with the worm-gear ll, however, and the other clutch member with the transmitting-shaft. Supposing that one beam be used, the entire compensating' device would be omitted, and one of the transmittingshafts, as the yoke 7 being' replaced by a suitable arm or pawl-carrier for the pawl 13 and rig'idly secured to the shaft l, the latter being made tubular or solid indifferently.

Such a structure is shown in Fig. .5, the pawl-carrier 50 taking the place of the yoke 7 and being secured by a set-screw to the shaft 100, the equivalent of shaft 1, the other parts being substantially as hereinbefore described.

My invention accordingly is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described herein, as the same may be modified or varied in different particulars by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam, a positively-driven actuating member, a transmitting-shaft having a fast and a loose gear thereon, one of said gears coperating' with the warp-beam and the other with the actuating' member, and a clutch to normally effect rotation of the loose gear with the shaft, release of the clutch permitting the warpbeam to be turned independently of the actuating' member.

2. In let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam, an actuating' or driving member therefor, driven by a moving part of the loom,

gears on the beam and driving member, a transmitting-shaft having a g'ear fast thereon in mesh with the beam-gear, a second gear loose on the shaft and in continuous mesh with the driving-gear, and a clutch to connect the loose gear with or disconnect it from the transmitting-shaft.

3. In let-offl mechanism for looms, a warpbeam having an attached gear, an actuatingworm driven by a moving' part of the loom, a transmitting-shaft having a pinion fast thereon in mesh with the beam-g'ear, a fixed bearing in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a worm-gear loose on said shaft and in continuous mesh with the worm, a. clutch member on said worm-gear, a cooperating clutch member rotatable with the shaft and movable into and out of engagement with its fellow, and a springto effect cooperation of the clutch members and thereby connect the worm-gear with the shaft.

4. In let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam having an attached gear, an actuating'- worm driven by a moving' part of the loom, a transmitting-shaft having' a pinion fast thereon in mesh with the beam-g'ear, a fixed bearing in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a worm-gear loose on said shaft and in continuous mesh with the worm, said pinion and worm-gear being' located at opposite ends of the shaft-bearing', a clutch one member whereof rotates with the worm-gear and the other 4member with the shaft, the latter member being' supported on the outer end of the shaft and manually movable in one direction relatively thereto to render the clutch inoperative, and a spring' to etfect cooperation of the clutch members.

5. In let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam having an attached g'ear, an actuating'- worm driven by a moving' part of the loom, a transmitting-shaft having' a pinion fast thereon in mesh with the beam-gear, a fixed bearing' in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a worm-gear loose on said shaft and in continuous mesh with the worm, a clutch member on said worm-gear, a cooperating' clutch member rotatable with the shaftand movable into and out of engagement with its fellow, and a spring' to effect cooperation of the clutch members and thereby connect the wormg'ear with the shaft, and also to maintain said clutch members out of cooperative engag'ement.

6. In let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam having an attached g'ear, an actuating'- worm driven by a moving' part of the loom, a transmitting-shaft having' a pinion fast thereon in mesh with the beam-gear, a fixed bearing in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a worm-gear loose on said shaft and in continuous mesh with the worm, a clutch member rotatable with said worm-gear, a coperating' clutch member operatively connected and rotatable with the shaft and manually IOO movable into and out of engagement with its fellow, locking-shoulders on the said coperating clutch member, and a spring adapted to engage one or the other of said shoulders and thereby lock the clutch members in coperative or inoperative relation.

7. ln let-off mechanism for looms, a warpbeam having an attached gear, an actuatingworm driven by a moving part of the loom, a transmitting-shaft having a pinion fast thereon in mesh with the beam-gear, a fixed bearing in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, a worm-gear loose on said shaft and in continuous mesh with the worm, a ratchet carried by said worm-gear and forming one member of a clutch, a pawl forming the coperating c'lutch member mounted on and rotatable with the shaft and manually movable into and out of engagement with the ratchet, and a spring to maintain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet or disengaged therefrom.

8. In let-off mechanism for looms, two warpbeams, a positively-driven actuating member, transmitting means between it and the beams, said means including a compensating device operatively connected with the beams, and a clutch intermediate the actuating member and the transmitting means, release of the clutch permitting the warp-beams to be turned independently of the actuating member.

9. In let-off mechanism for looms, two warpbeams, a positively-driven actuating member; two transmitting-shafts each having a gear fast thereon coperating with one of the warpbeams, a compensator connecting said shafts, a gear loose with relation to said shafts and coperating with the actuating member, and a clutch intermediate said loose gear and the compensator to effect through the latter rotation of the transmitting-shaft with the loose gear, release of the clutch permitting the warpbeams to be turned independently of the actuating members.

10. In let-off mechanism for looms, two aXially-alined warp-beams, a common actuating member therefor driven by a moving part of the loom, gears on the beams and the driving member, a two-part transmitting-shaft having mounted upon it gears in mesh with the beam and driving-gears, one of the gears being loose on the shaft, a compensating connection between the shaft parts, and means to manually couple and uncouple the two-part shaft and the loose gear. f

11. In let-off mechanism for looms, a plurality of warp-beams, a positively-driven common actuating member therefor, and transmitting means between it and the beams and including a device to equalize the warp strain upon the several beams.

12. In let-off mechanism for looms, a plurality of warp-beams, apositively-driven common actuating member therefor, transmitting means between it and the beams and including an equalizing or compensating device, and means to manually couple and uncouple the actuating member and said transmitting means.

13. In let o mechanism for looms, two warp-beams side by side and each having an attached head-gear, a positively-driven common actuating member therefor, two shafts each having fast upon it a gear in mesh with one of the beam head-gears, a compensator connecting the shafts, a gear loose on one of the shafts and coperating with the actuating member, and a clutch to normally effect rotation of the loose gear with the compensator, and through the latter with the two shafts.

14. In let-off mechanism for looms, two warp-beams side by side and each having an attached head-gear, a positively-driven common actuating member therefor, two coaxial shafts each having a gear fast upon it in mesh with one of the beam head-gears, a compensator connecting and providing for differential rotation of the shafts, a gear loose on one shaft and coperating with the actuating member, a clutch member rotatable with said gear, and a coperating clutch member bodily rotatable with the compensator and movable into and out of engagement with its fellow member, to effect rotation of the shafts through the compensator when said clutch members are in engagement. c

15. In let-off mechanism for looms, two warp-beams in aXial alinement and each having an attached gear, a positively-driven common actuating member therefor, two coaxial transmitting-shafts each having fast upon it a gear in mesh with a beam-gear, and a spurgear on each shaft, said spur-gears facing each other, a yoke rotatable on one of the shafts and carrying bevelpinions between and meshing with the spur-gears, a gear loose with relation to the shafts and coperating i with the actuating member, a clutch member rotatable with said loose gear, and a coperating clutch member mounted on the yoke and movable into engagement with its fellow to cause rotation of the yoke and through it to transmit rotation to the shafts and beams.

16. In let-0E mechanism for looms, two warp-beams side by side and each having an attached gear, an actuating member therefor driven by a moving part of the loom, a tubular shaft having a pinion fast thereon in mesh with one of the beam-gears, a fixed bearing in which said shaft is rotatably mounted, a gear loose on the shaft, and coperating with the actuating member, a ratchet rotatable with said gear, a second sh aft rotatably mounted in and extended through the tubular shaft and having a pinion fast upon it meshing with the second beam-gear, spur-gears fast on the adjacent ends of the two shafts and facing each other, a yoke mounted to rotate upon the tubular shaft and having bevel-pinions between and meshing with the spur-gears, and a pawl on said yoke adapted to coperat'e IOO IIO

with said ratchet, to cause rotation of the yoke and shafts to thereby drive the beams, the compensating connection between the shafts serving' to equalize warp tension, disconnection of the pawl and ratchet permitting' manual rotation of the beams.

17. In let-off mechanism for looms, two warp-beams side by side and each having' an attached gear, an actuating' member therefor driven by a moving part of the loom, a tubular shaft havinga pinion fast thereon in mesh with one of the beam-gears, a iixed bearing' in which said shaft is rotatably mounted, a gear loose on the shaft and cooperating with the actuating member, a clutch member rotating with said gear, a second shaft rotatably mounted in and extended through the tubular shaft and having a pinion fast upon it meshing' w1th the second beam-g'ear, a compensating' connection between the adjacent ends of the shafts and including' a yoke rotal scribing witnesses.

JOHN T. MEATS. vWitnesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDS, ELIZABETH R. MORRISON. 

